Keeping up with current affairs can be difficult, especially as a university student, and staying on top of the news in today’s world can be nothing short of draining. Just the other day, I had a conversation with my friends about the price of gas. We all agreed on how irritating it is to watch the prices fluctuate, but skated over the reason as to why it’s so expensive.
My friend, who is not from the UK but studies here at St Andrews, told me the other day that he didn’t know who the Prime Minister of the UK is. Our other friend said, “Isn’t it Keir Starmer?” Keir Starmer, a member of the Labour Party, stepped down as Prime Minister on 20 July 2026. He was replaced by Andy Burnham, also of the Labour Party, on the same day. It is an easy thing to miss when we’re so caught up in our own lives, but it shows how quickly the world can move on without us noticing.
University students lead very busy lives. Between lectures, deadlines, societies, social lives, and everything in between, it can feel as though there’s little room for more information, let alone the constant stream of information on events that change and evolve daily. While we may live lives of newfound independence at university, at the same time, we are expanding our horizons and bubbles of influence (even if it may not seem like it). Being aware of current affairs at home and abroad has never been more important. Here is my update on the biggest stories in the world right now and my advice on how to fit staying informed into your daily routine.
The Biggest Stories this Week
Last week marked 3 years since Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel and the escalation of the conflict in Gaza. For Israelis, this was the first anniversary with no hostages left in Gaza. A US-brokered ceasefire took effect a year ago, but it has brought Palestinians far less relief than it promised. Israeli strikes have continued, killing more than 1,400 people since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures the UN uses. The UN says 94% of the population in Gaza urgently needs shelter and basic household assistance. Hamas has still not disarmed, and Israel says it will not withdraw until it does. Though the word “nuanced” is thrown around often these days, this is a situation where there can seem to be no clear answer. When educating yourself on the Israel-Palestine conflict, I urge you to gain as many perspectives as possible.
War in Iran
That conversation about gas prices? Well, this is why. Since the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran in February of 2026, Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that used to carry about a fifth of the world’s oil. Last month, oil jumped above $107 a barrel after President Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to end the war, and this past week UK energy prices hit record highs.
Ukraine
The war in Ukraine is in its fifth year. Russia is attacking Ukrainian cities and power supplies, and Ukraine is targeting Russian oil refineries deep inside Russia’s borders. Earlier this month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a trip to Kyiv, pledging €1 billion in military aid and €350 million to repair energy infrastructure. The U.S. has proposed new peace talks by the end of October; whether Russia shows up is the big question.
Trump and US Midterm Elections
On 3 November, Americans vote in the midterm elections, held halfway through a president’s four-year term. Every seat in the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate are up for grabs, and whichever party wins control of Congress shapes how much President Trump can expect to get done in his final two years.
Brazil’s Presidential Election
Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy and democratic power, heads to a presidential runoff on 25 October. Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup, narrowly won the first round with 47% against President Lula (who is 80 years old) at 45%. The results will shape Brazil’s relationship with the rest of the countries in South America and around the world.
France’s Student Protests
Since late September, French high school students have been protesting over underfunded schools across the country. The students are upset about run-down facilities, staff shortages, and cell phone bans. What’s interesting, however, is that France spends more on each high school student than the EU average. Thousands of people have been arrested, and hundreds of teachers, students, and police officers have been injured. The protests have gotten violent to levels Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has called “unprecedented.”
My Advice
With so many outlets available online, how should you pick which one to get your news from? The short answer: you shouldn’t. The longer answer: each news outlet, like every person, has its own conscious and subconscious biases. Like doing research for a paper, or deciding which side of a story to take when gossip or drama pops up, you need to gather multiple perspectives. My go-to way to stay informed is pulling up Google and searching “World News.” What will pop up varies depending on where you are, but explore at least three or four of the options presented. Read the same story on BBC and Al Jazeera and notice what each one chooses to emphasize.
I used to be subscribed to email alerts from The New York Times, NPR, BBC, and many more. Although a seemingly smart way to stay on top of current events, the emails seemed to flood my already-full inbox until I stopped checking them altogether. Today, I have my Apple News notifications turned on for major updates, and I listen to podcasts from The New York Times and NPR. I have found podcasts to be the best way for me to keep up to date while walking to class, at the gym, or getting chores done around my flat.
None of this feels like good news; current affairs these days rarely are. That is part of why it can feel so taxing to read the news every morning. So, in the spirit of ending on a good note, the Nobel Peace Prize was just awarded to South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her incredible career fighting apartheid and defending human rights and international law. Even when we aren’t paying attention, the world doesn’t stop changing, so it’s important to stay informed. I hope that, by making the news feel a little less overwhelming, we can all begin to look beyond our own bubbles and better understand the world we are part of.